"I just figured this out recently," Gan Ning assud a dignified and righteous deanor befitting a great virtuous monk, yet there was still a sense of a monkey wearing a crown.
"What is the significance of such cultivation thods?" ng Kangbu inquired.
Gan Ning remained expressionless. Could he say that he kept silent only because he couldn’t speak Kushan language?
However, Gan Ning was quick-witted and put on a sorrowful expression, saying, "One says ’Disaster cos from the mouth,’ but I keep silent to avoid disaster. Likewise, being silent allows more contemplation, avoiding blurting out grievances in a mont of anger."
Gan Ning’s words left ng Kangbu montarily stunned. But recalling his own experience, he—a talented and extraordinary Inner Qi Manifestation—clashed with the Cecil Family precisely because he had spoken without thinking, casually mocking them.
"The Master’s words make sense," ng Kangbu, feeling empathy, bowed to Gan Ning.
Gan Ning tugged at his mouth. He was rely speaking nonsense, yet soone found it reasonable. How was this communication possible?
"May I ask if the Master would permit to learn this thod?" ng Kangbu bowed to Gan Ning once again.
"Why not?" Gan Ning responded woodenly, communicating with his heart.
[Whatever, if I can persuade even one person, that’s sothing. As long as it helps get by here, it’s fine.] Gan Ning thought silently.
"This thod starts with silence, and afterward, one must remain calm at all tis, maintaining a state of neither surprise nor anger. Only in this way can one avoid calamity," Gan Ning continued to embellish, reasoning that he had already started, so he might as well continue like the books he had read before.
"Thank you, Master." ng Kangbu bowed once more, then mimicked Gan Ning by closing his mouth, yet almost spoke imdiately.
"May I ask where the Master is from, where he intends to go, and why he is passing through my small water village?" After bowing, ng Kangbu began to imitate Gan Ning’s thod of heart-spirit communication, transmitting his thoughts to Gan Ning.
"From the north, heading south, passing through here as I felt there was sothing to learn, so I ca to enlist," Gan Ning replied directly, not hiding his intentions. He realized he had inadvertently earned the other’s trust, so getting straight to the point seed the best choice.
"Hahaha, the Master has a keen eye, uh..." ng Kangbu, who was relegated here by the Cecil Family, burst into laughter upon hearing this, only to realize he had spoken aloud, feeling slightly embarrassed. It was then that he realized that the Master’s "Silent ditation Technique" was not so easy to practice.
ng Kangbu had always believed his misfortune was due to bad luck. Although his skills were not inferior to others, the suppression from the Cecil Family prevented him from showcasing them. Therefore, people were unaware of his abilities. Unexpectedly, a kindred spirit descended from the heavens, with a Master acknowledging him.
[The Master seems not to understand naval warfare, but it doesn’t matter, I can teach him. Rare in life is finding a kindred spirit.] ng Kangbu, who had long been unappreciated, finally found soone of equal stature who recognized him. Gan Ning’s words were like a shot of strength to his heart.
"Master, if you’re interested in naval warfare, then stay. Although I, ng Kangbu, am suppressed by the Cecil Family, here in Minagara, I can still wield authority." ng Kangbu solemnly transmitted to Gan Ning.
"Thank you. By the way, my na is Gan Xingba," Gan Ning communicated his na using heart-spirit communication to ng Kangbu.
"Gan, a rare surna. I can only tell you my na; I am ng Kangbu," ng Kangbu similarly used heart-spirit communication to inform Gan Ning.
Over the following year, Gan Ning taught ng Kangbu the Silent ditation Technique. Through this thod of staying silent, ng Kangbu gradually cald down, accustod himself to think thrice before speaking, and beca much more composed overall.
Over the sa year, ng Kangbu personally taught Gan Ning how to fight at sea, choose the best tactics, utilize every part of a warship, and unleash a warship’s combat power beyond its limits in a short ti.
This year, ng Kangbu almost entirely taught Gan Ning the fundantal training programs of the Kushan Navy. As for more advanced techniques, ng Kangbu had no intention of hiding anything; he taught Gan Ning everything he knew, and even the things he was unsure of, he recited to Gan Ning. Whether Gan Ning learned them or not, ng Kangbu didn’t mind. As long as Gan Ning wished to learn, he’d teach.
The result was evident. Within a year, Gan Ning learned almost everything, mastering whatever tactical skills he could, and even morizing word-for-word those he couldn’t, intending to study them further upon his return.
Through the entire year, Gan Ning’s performance was not very outstanding, and he seldom practiced personally. However, Gan Ning assured that whatever he learned, once he reached the Han Dynasty, he could employ them all, and what he didn’t master, he ticulously morized.
Once Gan Ning was sure he couldn’t learn anything new from ng Kangbu, he quietly left without leaving any ssage. Their next encounter would inevitably be as adversaries, so not eting was better than eting.
So ti earlier, as Gan Ning had just begun advancing from the Indochina Peninsula towards Kushan, over in Yizhou, Zhang Su and others had finally organized the suzerainty relations between the major southern tribes, kingdoms, and the Han Dynasty.
"Zichi, what do you think?" Zhang Su and the group with Zhang Song compared maps, distinguishing the forces of various Indigenous People, pausing to ask Qin Mi.
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